On Tuesday, the Cleveland Indians announced the rest of the 2017 player development staff. With many new hires and promotions, the staff as a whole and on the club levels has some new faces on them.

With the promotion of former Director of Player Development Carter Hawkins to Assistant General Manager, there was a new Director of Player Development hired. James Harris was named to the position in December after spending a year with the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Baseball Operations department. Matt Blake was promoted from the Lower Level Pitching Coordinator role last year to being an Assistant Director of Player Development under Harris.

Director, Player Development: James Harris^

Assistant Director, Player Development: Alex Eckelman

Assistant Director, Player Development: Matt Blake*

Director, Administration: Wendy Hoppel

Administrative Assistant: Nilda Taffanelli

There are a couple new faces in roles for the field staff of the entire organization this season. The top roles remain the same with Wiedenbauer and Rangel as field coordinators. With the promotion of Matt Blake, Mark Allen becomes the Lower-Level Pitching Coordinator in 2017. Allen was the pitching coach for the Arizona League team last season. Todd Kubacki was promoted to Performance Coordinator after he spent nine seasons as the Strength and Conditioning Coordinator. Ed Subel, who was the strength and conditioning coach for Triple-A Columbus, moves into Kubacki’s spot in the lineup. Former Scrappers, Captains and Mudcats manager David Wallace moves into a Special Assignment Coordinator role.

Field Coordinator: Tom Wiedenbauer

Assistant Field Coordinator: Julio Rangel

Performance Coordinator: Todd Kubacki*

Pitching Coordinator: Ruben Niebla

Lower-Level Pitching Coordinator: Mark Allen*

Hitting Coordinator: Jim Rickon

Infield Coordinator: John McDonald

Cultural Development: Bruce Chen

Pitching Programs & Rehab: Ken Knutson

Strength & Conditioning: Ed Subel*

Rehab Coordinator: Andrew Pipken

Latin American S & C: Nelson Perez

Performance Coach: Ceci Clark

Performance Coach: Brian Miles

Performance Coach: Oscar Gutierrez

Special Assignment: David Wallace*

Special Assistant: Travis Fryman

Special Assistant: Robby Thompson

Advisor: Johnny Goryl

Advisor: Minnie Mendoza

Advisor: Tim Tolman

Affiliate S & C Staff: Juan Acevado

Affiliate S & C Staff: Scott Nealon

Affiliate S & C Staff: Paul Synenkj

Affiliate S & C Staff: Hasani Torres

Columbus Clippers (AAA):

Manager: Chris Tremie

Pitching Coach: Steve Karsay

Hitting Coach: Rouglas Odor

Bench Coach: Jerry Owens*^

Athletic Trainer: Chad Wolfe

The Clippers will be managed by Chris Tremie for the fifth straight season as he is the only manager that stayed put from the 2016 season. Steve Karsay and Rouglas Odor stay at Huntington Park in the roles from the 2016 season. Jerry Owens joins the Indians organization as the bench coach for the Clippers. Owens played 14 years, including four years in the Major Leagues with the Chicago White Sox. Owens just ended his playing career after time in the Mexican League and other independent leagues.

Akron RubberDucks (AA):

Manager: Mark Budzinski*

Pitching Coach: Tony Arnold

Hitting Coach: Johnny Narron*^

Bench Coach: Omir Santos*

Athletic Trainer: Jeremy Heller

The RubberDucks will be managed by a new face for the first time since the 2013 season. Mark Budzinski begins his fourth season with the Indians, as the new manager of the RubberDucks. Budzinski managed the Lynchburg Hillcats for the last two seasons. Tony Arnold remains at Canal Park for his 25th season as an Indians coach. Johnny Narron joins the Indians’ organization after he was the hitting coordinator and hitting coach for the Salt Lake Bees (AAA). Omir Santos was named the bench coach for the ‘Ducks after he served in that role with the Clippers last season.

Lynchburg Hillcats (A+):

Manager: Tony Mansolino*

Pitching Coach: Rigo Beltran

Hitting Coach: Kevin Howard*

Bench Coach: TBD

Athletic Trainer: Bobby Ruiz

After making his managerial debut in 2016 with the Lake County Captains, Tony Mansolino moves up to the High-A level as he becomes the manager of the Hillcats. Mansolino replaces Budzinski, who moved up to Akron. Beltran is back in Virginia for his third season with the Hillcats as the pitching coach. Kevin Howard moves to Lynchburg after spending one year with the Captains’ hitting coach.

Lake County Captains (A-):

Manager: Larry Day*

Pitching Coach: TBD

Hitting Coach: Justin Toole*

Bench Coach: Junior Betances

Athletic Trainer: Matt Beauregard

Larry Day will man the dugout at Classic Park in 2017 as he will make his managerial debut this season. Day comes back to Lake County after he spent last season as the hitting coach for Lynchburg. Day previously was the hitting coach at Lake County in 2015. Justin Toole, a former Indians’ farmhand, will join the Captains coaching staff after he was the hitting coach with Mahoning Valley last season. Junior Betances will return as the bench coach for the Captains as he stayed in the same role last season.

Mahoning Valley Scrappers (SS):

Manager: Luke Carlin*

Pitching Coach: TBD

Hitting Coach: Pete Lauritson*^

Bench Coach: Grant Fink*^

Athletic Trainer: Jake Legan

Former Major Leaguer Luke Carlin, who spent time in an Indians’ uniform, will be the next manager of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers in 2017. Carlin was an extra coach on the Akron staff last year and will be making his managerial debut in June. He will be joined by two new faces in the Indians’ organization. Pete Lauritson joins the Indians organization after he was an assistant coach at Iowa. Prior to Iowa, he was a coach in junior college for 13 years. Grant Fink rejoins the Indians system, this time as a coach. Fink was a minor leaguer for the Tribe for three years prior to him playing independent league baseball and retiring last year.

Arizona League Indians (Rk):

Manager: Anthony Medrano

Hitting Coach: Dennis Malave

Hitting Coach: Bobby Magallanes

Pitching Coach: Joe Torres*^

Athletic Trainer: Ted Blackwell

Medrano remains as the manager in Goodyear for the seventh straight season. Malave returns as the hitting coach for the seventh season and will have Bobby Magallanes as his assistant for the second straight season. Joe Torres is joining the Indians organization after he was the pitching coach at King’s Ridge Christian Academy for the last two years.

Today, the Cleveland Indians made the first round of releases at the minor league level as the full-season rosters begin to take shape. Five players were released from the organization, all pitchers at this time. Two of the five players played in Lake County over the last couple of years. With Opening Day two weeks away, more releases will be coming in the next couple of days. I wish the best of luck to these players in their future endeavors.

RHP Jordan Carter

Drafted in the 22nd round of the 2014 MLB Draft out of St. Joseph’s University

4-7 with a 4.71 ERA in 45 games, 66:22 K:BB ratio in 105.0 innings

2 seasons across 2 levels (SS/A-)

RHP Duke von Schamann

Acquired in April of 2014 from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the trade of LHP Colt Hynes

10-11 with 4.89 ERA in 31 games, 89:45 K:BB ratio in 169.1 innings

2 seasons across 2 levels with the Indians (AA/AAA)

Missed 50 games for a drug suspension in 2015

RHP Jose Rodriguez

Signed as an international free agent in 2013

3-7 with a 3.78 ERA in 41 games, 97:45 K:BB ratio in 112 innings

3 seasons on 1 level (Rk-DSL/AZL)

RHP Caleb Hamrick

Drafted in the 8th round of the 2012 MLB Draft out of Cedar Hill High School

10-18 with a 4.78 ERA in 79 games, 162:93 K:BB ratio in 226 innings

4 seasons across 3 levels (Rk-AZL/SS/A-)

RHP Edward Estrella

Signed as an international free agent in 2011

12-5 with a 3.58 ERA in 86 games, 127:75 K:BB ratio in 186 innings

5 seasons across 2 levels (Rk-DSL/AZL/SS)

Four of the five guys that were cut were pitchers at the lower levels of the system and were not on the prospect radar. Some of them found themselves not moving up through the system. For von Schamann, his drug suspension really hurt his cause with the organzation. He was becoming a solid starter for depth but the suspension dropped him from the list. I wish the best of luck to these gentleman in the future.

Note: This is the third part of a series that will look at the coaching staffs in the Cleveland Indians organization. Up next: the Lake County Captains.

In January, the Cleveland Indians announced the player development staffs of each of the minor league affiliates. Just like the Triple-A and Double-A affiliates, the manager will be one that has been in that spot from the prior year.

In just his third year in the Cleveland Indians system, Hillcats manager Mark Budzinski will return to the dugout as manager at City Stadium. After spending 2015 with the Hillcats, Budzinski will be in a familiar clubhouse as he leads the High-A affiliate into the Carolina League season.

“2015 with Lynchburg was a great experience to have. I continued to learn and do the best that we can for each and every one of the players on the team,” said Budzinski in a recent phone interview.

After taking a hiatus from baseball to pursue a different career, “Bud” rejoined the world of baseball as the manager of the Lake County Captains in 2014. 2015 saw Budzinski manage the Hillcats, just two hours from his home in Richmond, Virginia. In two years as a manager, Budzinski has a record of 137-142 with two playoff appearances under his belt.

Another familiar face will return to the Lynchburg clubhouse and dugout in 2016. Pitching Coach Rigo Beltran comes back to Virginia to work with the Hillcats pitchers. In 2015, Beltran split time between Arizona and Lynchburg after Tony Arnold became the Clippers pitching coach. Beltran is in his third season with the Indians after seven years with the Cincinnati Reds. Beltran was with Budzinski in Lake County in 2014 as the pitching coach.

“Rigo is awesome to work with. He is very tough, he talks to his players daily, very attentive to detail and very prepared with his work,” he said.

2007-2008: GCL Reds Pitching Coach (Reds)

2009: Carolina Pitching Coach (Reds)

2010-2013: Bakersfield Pitching Coach (Reds)

2014: Lake County Pitching Coach

2015: Arizona Pitching Coach/Lynchburg Pitching Coach

Larry Day will make the jump from Lake County to the hitting coach position in Lynchburg. Day is in his second season with the Tribe minor league system as he coached in the collegiate ranks for six seasons prior to joining the Indians.

2008-2013: Assistant Coach at Vanderbilt University

2014: Assistant Coach at Ohio University

2015: Lake County Hitting Coach

Bobby Ruiz returns to Lynchburg as the trainer for the second straight season and Juan Acevedo joins the team as the Strength and Conditioning Coach.

“I am excited to be back in the Carolina League. I was able to get a feel for the league in my first season and how they work.”

The Hillcats will host the Winston-Salem Dash on Thursday April 7th at home for the 2016 season opener.

Note: This is the second part of a series that will look at the coaching staffs in the Cleveland Indians organization. Up next: the Lynchburg Hillcats.

Earlier this month, the Cleveland Indians announced the player development staffs of each of the minor league affiliates. Just like the Triple-A affiliate, the manager will be one that has been in that spot from the prior year.

For the third straight year, Dave Wallace will lead the Akron RubberDucks into the Eastern League. Wallace is the third manager with three consecutive seasons at the helm. 2016 will be the sixth season for Wallace as a manager in the Indians organization, and eighth overall. Before becoming a manager, Wallace was a bullpen catcher for the big league club in 2009-2010. Wallace began with a season at Mahoning Valley while serving as the catching coordinator in 2010. Wallace managed the Lake County Captains (2012) and the Carolina Mudcats (2013) for one year each before his time in Akron. In five seasons, Wallace has a record of 315-323 as a manager with two playoff appearances.

2009-2010: Cleveland Bullpen Catcher

2011: Mahoning Valley Manager (41-34)/Catching Coordinator

2012: Lake County Manager (71-68) Midwest League Playoffs (2nd Round)

2013: Carolina Manager (57-83)

2014: Akron Manager (73-69) Eastern League Playoffs (1st Round)

2015: Akron Manager (73-69)

Photo Credit: Akron RubberDucks

The RubberDucks will have one of the most experienced coaches at pitching coach in 2016. Tony Arnold will make his fourth appearance with the RubberDucks this season and first since the 2012 season. Arnold is in his 24th season with the Indians and 27th as a coach. Arnold was a pitching coach for the Canton-Akron Indians (1996) and the Akron Aeros (1997-99, 2008, 2011-12) before joining the RubberDucks this season. The 56-year old coach spent time with the Columbus Clippers and the Lynchburg Hillcats.

1990-1992: Yakima Pitching Coach (LA Dodgers)

1993-1994: Watertown Pitching Coach

1995: Kinston Pitching Coach

1996: Canton-Akron Pitching Coach

1997-1999: Akron Pitching Coach

2000-2002: Burlington Pitching Coach

2003-2004: Lake County Pitching Coach

2005: Mahoning Valley Pitching Coach

2006: Burlington Pitching Coach

2007: Kinston Pitching Coach

2008: Akron Pitching Coach

2009: Lake County Pitching Coach

2010: Kinston Pitching Coach

2011-2012: Akron Pitching Coach

2013-2014: Columbus Pitching Coach

2015: Lynchburg Pitching Coach/Columbus Pitching Coach

There will be a “newcomer” to the Indians organization at the hitting coach position. Former Indians player Tim Laker rejoins the system after a stint in the Chicago White Sox system. Laker spent the last six seasons with the White Sox. He was a hitting instructor in 2015 after three years as the hitting coordinator. Following Laker’s playing career, he managed the Mahoning Valley Scrappers before spending two years as the catching coordinator. This will be his fourth season with the Indians as a coach.

Note: This is the first of a series that will look at each of the coaching staffs in the Cleveland Indians organization. Up next: the Akron RubberDucks.

Last Monday, the Cleveland Indians announced the staffs for the player development staffs for each of their affiliates as well as the front office PD staffs. Down Interstate 71, there will be a familiar face sitting in the manager’s spot in the dugout.

For the fourth straight year, Chris Tremie will be at the helm of the Columbus Clippers as the field manager. Tremie and the Clippers are coming off the Governors’ Cup Championship in 2015 and second straight year in the playoffs. 2016 will be the 11th year for Tremie as a member of the Indians’ organization, all in the managerial role. Over the course of the last ten years, he has a record of 626-609 across five different levels. He has led teams to three playoff appearances, including a Eastern League title in 2012 with Akron.

In the pitching coach role, there will be a new face in the dugout. Steve Karsay returns to Columbus as a coach in 2016. Karsay pitched for the Clippers in 2004, while the Clippers were part of the Yankees organization. Karsay begins his fifth season as a coach in the Indians system. He spent the 2015 season with the Lake County Captains, where he helped make history. There were five Captains pitchers that had 100+ strikeouts in a season. That was the first time it happened in the Midwest League. The former Major League pitcher replaces Tony Arnold and Carl Willis as the pitching coach of the AAA affiliate.

2012: AZL Pitching Coach

2013: Lake County Pitching Coach

2014: Carolina Pitching Coach

2015: Lake County Pitching Coach

Hitting coach Rouglas Odor returns to Columbus for the second straight season. Odor is beginning his 18th season as a coach/manager and 28th as a player, coach and/or manager. Prior to his time in Columbus, Odor was the hitting coach for the Akron RubberDucks in 2014. Odor spent the first ten years post-playing career as a manager before moving to a hitting coach role the last eight years.

Former big-league catcher Omir Santos will return as an assistant coach for the Clippers. Santos played with the Clippers and the Indians in 2013. Following his playing career, Santos appeared with Columbus as a coach last season and will return in 2016 as a full-time coach.

2015: Columbus assistant coach

Trainer Chad Wolfe will return to Huntington Park for the third straight season and Ed Subel returns as the strength and conditioning coach for the fifth straight season.

The Clippers will open the 2016 season on April 7th as they host the Indianapolis Indians at Huntington Park.

The Cleveland Indians announced their 2016 player development staff for the organization on Monday afternoon. There are some changes that shake the rest of the ladder throughout the system. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the PD staff for the Cleveland Indians.

The top heads of the Player Development branch of the front office will remain the same. Carter Hawkins will remain as the Director of Player Development, a position he gained last winter when current Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins was promoted. Alex Eckelman moves up the ladder to become one of the Assistant Directors of Player Development. He will work with current assistant director Eric Binder after working as the Advanced Scouting Coordinator for the last four years.

The staff of coordinators is where there is a lot of new faces in new positions. Julio Rangel was the Lower Level Pitching Coordinator for the last couple of seasons, but now he will be the assistant to current Field Coordinator Tom Wiedenbauer. Matt Blake joins the Indians organization to fill Rangel’s role and he will work with Ruben Niebla and the coaches of the system. Former Indians player and Major Leaguer John McDonald moves into a full-time role as he becomes the Infield Coordinator after a season as a Special Assistant to Player Development. Recently-retired Major Leaguer Bruce Chen joins the organization to assist the Latin players on the adjustment to the culture as Cultural Development Coordinator. Travis Fryman returns to a Advisor role after a season as Manager of the Mahoning Valley Scrappers.

For the coaching staffs, there will be a more in-depth post about each staff in the coming days. Here is the recap for now.

Columbus Clippers (AAA):

Manager: Chris Tremie

Pitching Coach: Steve Karsay*

Hitting Coach: Rouglas Odor

Coach: Omir Santos*

Strength and Conditioning: Ed Subel

Trainer: Chad Wolfe

Tremie returns to the Clippers dugout for the fourth straight season and will begin his 11th season in the Indians organization. Steve Karsay makes the jump from Low-A Lake County to Columbus to become the Pitching Coach in 2016, his 5th season with the Tribe. Rouglas Odor is back for the second straight season as the Hitting Coach for the defending Governor’s Cup Champions. Former Clipper Omir Santos becomes a full-time coach with the Clippers after he spent time last year with the catchers of the team. Wolfe and Subel are returning for their third and fourth years in Columbus, respectively.

Akron RubberDucks (AA):

Manager: Dave Wallace

Pitching Coach: Tony Arnold*

Hitting Coach: Tim Laker*

Strength and Conditioning: Scott Nealon*

Trainer: Jeremy Heller

Wallace begins his third consecutive season at the helm of the RubberDucks, and sixth season with the Cleveland Indians. Tony Arnold becomes the Pitching Coach at Akron, replacing Jeff Harris. Arnold spent 2015 split between Lynchburg and Columbus as the Pitching Coach. Tim Laker rejoins the Indians organization following six years with the Mariners and the White Sox. He was the Scrappers manager in 2007. Nealon joins the RubberDucks following time with the Lynchburg Hillcats. Heller returns to Akron for the third straight season.

Lynchburg Hillcats (A+):

Manager: Mark Budzinski

Pitching Coach: Rigo Beltran*

Hitting Coach: Larry Day*

Strength and Conditioning: Juan Acevedo*

Trainer: Bobby Ruiz

Budzinski begins his third season in the Tribe system and second with the Hillcats team. Beltran is slated to begin his first full season with the Hillcats as he joined the team halfway through the year when Tony Arnold moved to Columbus. Day will travel from Lake County to Lynchburg to maintain the Hitting Coach position. Ruiz returns to Lynchburg for the second straight season and sixth in the Indians organization. Acevedo heads to Virginia after time with the Scrappers in Niles, Ohio.

Lake County Captains (A-):

Manager: Tony Mansolino*

Pitching Coach: Steve McCatty*

Hitting Coach: TBA

Coach: Junior Betances*

Strength and Conditioning: Paul Synenkyj

Trainer: Matt Beauregard

Mansolino becomes the 11th manager in the Captains history and Lake County is a familiar place for him. He was the Hitting Coach in 2013 before spending time with Carolina and Akron over the last two seasons. McCatty joins the Indians organization after spending the last six years as the Major League Pitching Coach with the Washington Nationals. Betances will be an assistant coach with the Captains after he spent the last six years with the Arizona Rookie League team. Synenkyj and Beauregard return to the same roles as 2015.

Mahoning Valley Scrappers (SS):

Manager: Edwin Rodriguez*

Pitching Coach: Tighe Dickinson*

Hitting Coach: Kevin Howard

Strength and Conditioning: Jake Legan

Trainer: Jake Sankel*

Rodriguez returns to the dugout after spending the last two seasons as a Special Assistant to Player Development. He last managed in 2013 with Akron. Dickinson joins the Indians organizations after being a college coach with Florida International, Arkansas State and Washington. Howard returns to Niles after his debut season in 2015. Legan returns as the Strength and Conditioning coach while Sankel comes from the RubberDucks.

Arizona Rookie League (Rk):

Manager: Anthony Medrano

Pitching Coach: Mark Allen

Hitting Coach: Dennis Malave

Coach: Bobby Magallanes*

Strength and Conditioning: Cesar Yepez

Trainer: Ted Blackwell

Medrano returns to Goodyear to be the manager for the sixth straight year. He will be joined by former Pitching Coach Mark Allen, who was in the same position in 2014. Malave will remain in the dugout as a hitting coach, a role he has held for six years. Magallanes kicks off his second season with the Tribe after one season with Lynchburg. Yepez and Blackwell return after 2015 in Goodyear.

Here is a list of the Cleveland Indians major league and minor league players that are participating in the various winter leagues around the world. More players will join throughout the offseason so this listing will be updated.